COVID-19

COVID-19 federal stimulus belongs to recipient

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The Internal Revenue Service has issued an alert that the federal stimulus payment belongs to the recipient and not to a nursing home or other care facility.  The stimulus payment is intended for the recipient even if a nursing home or other care facility receives the payment.  The stimulus payment is not a resource that must be turned over to a nursing home or other care facility.

The stimulus payment does not count as income Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.  The stimulus payment does not count as a resource for 12 months for any of those programs.

Social Security representative payees are not responsible for managing the stimulus because the stimulus money belongs to the recipient.  Representative payees should talk to the recipient about the stimulus money. If the recipient wants to use the stimulus money independently, the representative payee should give the stimulus money to the recipient.  (IR 2020-21, June 16, 2020.)

COVID-19 federal stimulus portal open until October 15

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The Internal Revenue Service has announced that the non-filer tool for people who to not need to file a tax return to get the federal stimulus money will be available until October 15, 2020. The non-filer tool is available to people who do not need to file a tax return because their income is under $12,200 for a single person and $24,400 for married couples. (IR 2020-111, June 3, 2020.)

COVID-19 extension of CalFresh interview waivers

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The federal waivers for the CalFresh program for initial application and recertification interview, conducting a face-to-face interview on request of the applicant and required recording equipment for telephonic signatures are extended until July 31.  For details about these waivers, see ACWDL April 2, 2020, summarized here, and ACWDL May 28, 2020, summarized here.  (ACWDL, June 15, 2020.)

COVID-19 extension of IHSS criminal background check changes

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In ACL 20-50, the California Department of Social Services implemented a temporary suspension of the requirement that applicants to be In Home Supportive Services providers be fingerprinted as part of their criminal background check and allowed a name-based check instead.  The suspension of the fingerprinting requirement is extended through July 31, 2020.

To remain a provider after July 31, 2020, all providers who were enrolled using a name-based check must complete the regular criminal background check requirements by July 31, 2020, including the fingerprint based background check.  (ACL 20-67, June 12, 2020.)

COVID-19 APS protocols

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Effective June 22, 2020, county Adult Protective Services (APS) will return to normal protocols for in-person visits and monthly welfare checks.  This includes a face-to-face investigation when an elder or dependent adult is in imminent danger, 10-day in-person response to protect the individual’s health and safety, and in-person monitoring visits every 30 days unless a written visitation plan justifies otherwise.  Counties must respond in-person to immediate threats such a physical or sexual abuse.

Social workers may ask clients or family members to wear a mask during the visit but cannot require it.  Social workers must have protective equipment before going on the in-person visit.  Protective equipment should be available from the county Office of Emergency Services.

Counties may continue to conduct investigations and monthly monitoring visits by telephone or videoconference under certain circumstances including: following city or county public health direction, the individual subject to the report refuses in-person entry, someone in the household has been exposed to COVID-19 or is experiencing symptoms, or an in-person respond was done and the county determines that additional monthly monitoring visits can be safely done by telephone or videoconference.  (ACL 20-66, June 11, 2020.)